Vogazianos, Paris

Objective: There is growing evidence that vitamin D levels have a role not only in bone health and energy metabolism, but also for supporting nervous system and brain functions, including impulsivity. Impulsive behaviours are considered characteristics of great relevance in patients with Eating Disorders (ED) both for the course of the illness and for the treatment. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between impulsive behaviours and vitamin D in patients with ED. Method: 236 patients with a diagnosis of ED, consecutively recruited at an ED ward between 2014 and 2018, were enrolled. Patients were classified as impulsive or non-impulsive based on the presence of clinically relevant impulsive behaviours. Results: Impulsive patients were found to have statistically significant lower levels of vitamin D than non-impulsive (p =.007). A threshold value of 20.4 ng/ml for discriminating impulsive from non-impulsive patients was found. Discussion: This hypothesis generating study partially confirmed a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and impulsive behaviours in ED spectrum mediated by body weight, even if results were not confirmed after corrected by obesity. No definitive conclusion may be taken on whether the effect is reduced due to the loss of power. Future directions are discussed.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed eating disorder (ED) services worldwide. Data suggests a worsening of psychopathology and an increased request for specialised treatments. Still, the studies are mostly based on experimental protocols with underpowered short-term opportunistic experimental designs. Thus, this study aims to assess the clinical and psychological differences between patients admitted to a specialised ED Unit before and after the COVID-19 breakout. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted from June 2014 to February 2022 in a specialised EDs Unit were enrolled. A total sample of 498 individuals was enrolled in this retrospective study, collecting demographic and psychopathological data at admission. Results: An increase in the admission of patients with anorexia nervosa has been reported, with lower age and higher levels of specific and general psychopathology, especially linked to body uneasiness. Conclusions: Results are put into the context of the preparation for the next pandemic that may require similar mitigation measures as COVID-19 to ensure the impact on existing and new patients. Covering an extended period with validated tools, our results might help psychiatric services to reassess their treatment pathways after the pandemic, helping clinicians to delineate future treatment interventions.KEYPOINTS After the COVID-19 breakdown, there was an increase in the admission of patients with anorexia nervosa to specialised services. More severe psychopathology was not accompanied by lower body mass index. Specialised eating disorders services should face sudden changes in patients’ requests for treatment. Understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting mitigation measures taken can lead to better preparations for the next pandemic.